As many of you may already know, Lady Gaga sang a Sound of Music medley at the Oscars last night, stripped of her usual flair and theatrics. The medley consisted of some of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s greatest writing, including “The Sound of Music,” “My Favorite Things, “Edelweiss,” and “Climb Every Mountain.”
As a singer myself, my Facebook has been exploding with various comments on this performance. Most of them have been pleasantly positive. Some have called for more performances like this one from Lady Gaga, stripped of the bells and whistles. Some have said that this single performance will usher in a new generation of music theater lovers. Some have even called for her to make an appearance on Broadway. Others, however, have been a little more upsetting.
I won’t dive into the few negative comments I read, except for the most repeated one; no one can beat Julie Andrews.
The validity of this statement, first of all, is irrelevant. Julie Andrews introduced certain generations to the beauty of musical theater, including mine, so she will have a special place in all of our hearts. This does not mean, however, that she will serve as the first idol for the next generation. I also doubt that Julie Andrews aimed to be the only performer in the world who could share the joy of music and theater with us. Her embracing Lady Gaga at the end of her Oscar performance certainly does not demonstrate the attitude of a high-and-mighty, I’m-the-best-that-ever-lived kind of artist.
And this sense of might is what I found most disturbing about the few negative comments I have seen. I don’t want to say everyone’s a critic, because most people are not being critical. The critics are, however, demonstrating a major culture problem within today’s world of staged music.
It has become so competitive and so afraid of limited funds, limited outside interest, limited everything, that those within the field have become unable to enjoy the spirit of the music that compelled them to pursue this career in the first place. Imagine this scenario for a second: as a little girl, Stefani Germanotta watched The Sound of Music in front of her boxy 90’s television for the first time, and subsequently was struck with the music theater bug. She performed constantly for her teddy bears, for her family, for anyone who would listen. This led her to perform in high school musicals, go to college for music, and audition for shows in New York City, her hometown. This proved unsuccessful, so she came up with alternative ways to be heard, finding her niche in an over-the-top pop persona named Lady Gaga. Once she gained outrageous success in this field, she jumps at the chance to sing the music theater she first loved, finally reaching her initial goal.
I am not saying this actually happened or this was her actual thought process. What I am saying is, she has become an international musician who branched out towards more traditional music. Then, everyone is surprised when she does it, and does it well. Why is that? Furthermore, is it possible that this was actually her intention all along, but the kind of negativity that has surfaced from this performance prevented her from going a traditional route? Has music theater fallen into the trap of telling others to go after their dreams, and then shooting them down when they do? Has it become, “Every man for himself”?
I understand it’s competitive out there. Any career that has top spots for a limited few will face fierce competition. Does it mean, however, that those climbing the ladder need to step on others as they pass? Unlike other careers, those who enter the field of music or theater do so because of a burning in their spirit, a piece of their soul that itches to come out and be heard. If we don’t respect that, in whatever way it comes, then music and theater will be dying forms. Only this way, the artists themselves will have done the deed.
Do you have the same fears for this career path? Do you have a similar struggle with a career in music or theater? What did you think of Lady Gaga at the Oscars? Please feel welcome to comment and share your thoughts.